McCrory and his wife are pushing their "pet" issue for the holidays and held a dog adoption event Saturday.

November 16, 2013 5:14:56 PM PST

RALEIGH, N.C. --

North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory and his wife Ann are pushing their "pet" issue for the holidays.

They held a dog adoption event at the Executive Mansion from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

"Help brighten the holidays with a new addition to your family," said First Lady Ann McCrory in a news release. "Please help by bringing home a new dog or just coming out to show your support."

The Wake County SPCA, Humane Society of Charlotte and Guilford County Shelter provided as many as 30 dogs for adoption. Several of the adoptable puppies coming to the mansion are rescued puppies from a Pender County puppy mill bust.

The Governor and his wife, along with Representative Jason Saine and Senator Neal Hunt, are also pushing the General Assembly to take action on House Bill 930 which regulates puppy mills.

"I cannot fathom why people would abuse animals, any more than I can fathom why people would abuse children, the elderly, other people. It just makes no sense to me," said Ann McCrory at Saturday's event.

"We're going to keep pushing for this legislation in the short session, and I think one of the way we're going to do this, we're going to get public involved in this process, not make it an inside the beltline legislation but let all North Carolina know the importance of having basic guidelines for puppy mills," McCrory told reporters Wednesday.